While many therapists, including Franz Anton Mesmer and Sigmund Freud, tried hypnotherapy without success, it wasn't until Milton Erickson implemented it in his medical practice that it became customary. Early doctors used it as a means of pain control before chemical anesthetics came into existence. Only at the end of the 19th century did hypnotherapy go back to the mental health profession through the work of Pierre Janet.

During the 1930's, Clark Leonard Hull was the first to research hypnotherapy using experimental and scientific methods, which in turn lead to the publication of Hypnosis and Suggestibility.

What is Hypnosis?

"Hypnosis is actually a natural common daily state of mind, namely –whenever you 'zoom out' you're in Hypnosis," says Shlomo Vaknin, a certified hypnotherapist and NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) master practitioner. Vaknin equals hypnosis to driving on the highway. "You don't have to pay conscious attention to every detail of driving the car. You drive while thinking on what you have to do at home or at work, or you fantasize about the bath you will have in an hour. That's an example of the mental state of hypnosis, which is almost similar (though in a different degree of "deepness") to the state of mind you're in as you only wake up in the morning, those few moments of being half awake and half asleep."

Hypnosis is a natural state where the subconscious (creative) mind can be accessed. Since this is where a person's memories, beliefs, and habits are stored, having access to them means that they can also be modified for the person's benefit. "An addiction to cigarettes, for example, is simply a habit that has gone over conscious control," says Vaknin. If the conscious mind is resisting changing a habit, accessing the subconscious allows the person to instigate those positive changes in a way that feels natural.

What Exactly is "Being Hypnotized"?

There is more than one level of hypnosis. "The famous one is actually also the most shallow one, which is usually utilized in stage shows," says Vaknin. "That is not hypnosis 'per se'. Unfortunately, these stage shows have popularized a myth about hypnosis, as if the subject (the person who is being hypnotized) is being under the control of the hypnotist. In reality, it is far away from the truth."

An induction is the act of bringing someone into a hypnotic state. While this can be self-induced, it's usually done by a qualified therapist. There are many techniques in use by professionals, but most prefer to use imagery, making the patient imagine himself in a peaceful, safe place, and then guiding him into the specific problem area. Some therapists use a regressive count, while others employ music or different mechanical devices. The "eye fixation" method, seen in Hollywood movies, was common during the 1800's but very few (if any) therapists use it today.

People experience being hypnotized in different ways. While some people have the feeling of falling asleep, others remain completely conscious and aware of every word said around them. "Some will tell you that their mind went blank, others have flashbacks from childhood," says Vaknin. "Some will feel their feet numb, and others will feel a sense of heaviness or lightness in some parts of the body or in its whole." How the person feels while being hypnotized usually has no relation to the level of relaxation.

What is the Difference Between Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy?

"Hypnotherapy is a professional name to 'therapy with hypnosis'," says Vaknin. Like other forms of therapy, it involves a knowledgeable counselor (in this case, the hypnotherapist) using different methods (here, hypnosis) to help the patient.

Approaching the Issue of Weight Loss

When Dateline NBC put six overweight people in a weight loss challenge last year, the person using hypnotherapy as the only technique lost more than those doing Slimfast and almost the same as the one following Weight Watchers.

Weight loss is only second to smoking in the list of reasons people seek out a hypnotherapist. A person becomes overweight because of a set of unhealthy habits that she cannot change consciously. "A person who suffers from being overweight simply has some non-useful beliefs about food and nutrition," says Vaknin. "He shares some common habits with other overweight people, like eating the non nutritional food, not listening to his/her body, its needs and demands and so on."

Because the issue of weight is so intricate, it usually takes longer than other habits to be changed and requires active participation on the part of the therapist, rather than only guidance. "We deal usually first with the self image of the client, and then go directly to the main three or four habits that contribute to this condition," says Vaknin. If the client can change the set of beliefs that made her overweight in the first place, then it's easier to change the unhealthy everyday habits that go with it. "Knowing what your body needs, what it deserves to have, what each compulsion means (for example, the urgent need for sugar doesn't really mean it has to be something sweet) – all of these combined, will create a set of values and beliefs that encourage better weight management," adds Vaknin.

Advantages

It's non-invasive; when done under the supervision of a qualified hypnotherapist, it's also safe.

There's no one-fits-all solution. Sessions can be adapted to the needs of every patient.

It's often successful where conventional treatments have failed.

Contrary to popular "miracle cures," Hypnotherapy does not promise a magic answer to weight loss. Hypnotherapy helps the patient deal with the reasons she's overweight, but the actual work has to be done by the patient.

Hypnotherapy promotes lifestyle changes. If the person doesn't change the beliefs that make him or her overindulge and doesn't learn to put long-term wellness above immediate satisfaction, any change in weight brought in by dieting is not likely to be permanent. "Hypnotherapy deals with the core, the actual processes the mind goes through, and therefore it stays for life," says Vaknin.

Disadvantages

Because there is no statutory regulation of the profession, there's always the risk of running into somebody who lacks the right training.

Hypnotherapy is not recommended for people with post-traumatic stress, epilepsy, and serious psychological disorders (such as split personality, borderline psychosis, and depression).

The process takes work. Many patients undergo hypnotherapy in the hopes of finding a miracle cure and get disappointed when the therapist mentions diet and exercise.

It may not work for everybody. "Some clients will not find their remedy or solution in Hypnotherapy for all kinds of reasons," says Vaknin. "Most will, but some will not."

Other Uses for Hypnosis

Smoking cessation and other addictions

Pain control, including childbirth, fibromyalgia, burn injuries, and post-surgery

Nausea and vomiting during pregnancy

Insomnia

Panic and anxiety disorders (but not as a substitute for psychiatric or psychological treatment)

Nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting)

External Links:

• NLP Weekly - Info about hypnosis, and NLP - Free newsletter